A '''miracle''' is anything unexplainable which seems to defy the laws of physics, nature, or logic in order to achieve an end, usually something very [[good]] or mystifying.

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A '''miracle''' is anything unexplainable which seems to defy the laws of [[physics]], [[natural | nature]], or [[logic]] in order to achieve an end, usually something very [[good]] or mystifying.

The more common definition of "miracle" is much looser than the technical definition. In the common definition a miracle is anything that causes wonder or amazement, even if it's completely explainable. For example, here's a comparison between the two definitions:

The more common definition of "miracle" is much looser than the technical definition. In the common definition a miracle is anything that causes wonder or amazement, even if it's completely explainable. For example, here's a comparison between the two definitions:

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*''Technical:'' "I was walking down the street and an iron girder suspended above a construction site fell as I was walking underneath. Right as it was about to hit me it suddenly flew to the left and landed in the middle of the street, completely missing me and everyone else there! [[God]] was watching out for me."

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*''Technical:'' "I was walking down the street and an iron girder suspended above a construction site fell as I was walking underneath. Just as it was about to hit me it suddenly flew to the left and landed in the middle of the street, completely missing me and everyone else there! [[God]] was watching out for me."

*''Common:'' "My son was just born this morning. He has the most beautiful eyes in the world. Childbirth is such a miracle!"

*''Common:'' "My son was just born this morning. He has the most beautiful eyes in the world. Childbirth is such a miracle!"

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In his book, ''[[Unweaving the Rainbow]]'', [[Richard Dawkins]] coined a term to deal with "miracles" that merely turn out to be coincidental in nature: [[PETWHAC]], or "Population of Events That Would Have Appeared Coincidental". Dawkins points out that many mundane events occur every single day to every person on the planet, and the human mind has a great capacity to identify patterns where none exist. Dawkins explains that there is a space of events with perfectly normal probability, which could be interpreted as "miraculous" by people who have that sort of mindset.

In his book, ''[[Unweaving the Rainbow]]'', [[Richard Dawkins]] coined a term to deal with "miracles" that merely turn out to be coincidental in nature: [[PETWHAC]], or "Population of Events That Would Have Appeared Coincidental". Dawkins points out that many mundane events occur every single day to every person on the planet, and the human mind has a great capacity to identify patterns where none exist. Dawkins explains that there is a space of events with perfectly normal probability, which could be interpreted as "miraculous" by people who have that sort of mindset.

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For instance, suppose that you are thinking about a friend, and that friend just happens to call you. Is this event supernatural in nature? Extremely doubtful. People think about others all the time, and they also call each other all the time. Given enough time, there is a virtual guarantee that a coincidence of this nature will occur.

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For instance, suppose that you are thinking about a friend, and that friend just happens to call you. Is this event [[supernatural]] in nature? Extremely doubtful. People think about others all the time, and they also call each other all the time. Given enough time, there is a virtual guarantee that a coincidence of this nature will occur.

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Another interesting point to think of is what if someone is out for a jog one day and suddenly drops dead right then and there, should that also be considered a "miracle"? Arbitrarily defining miracle as something beneficial that makes one feel good does nothing to support the case of miracles. The difference is when something terrible happens - people try to find a rational explanation for said occurrence. When they cannot find an explanation (typically due to lack of technology to do so) they simply say, "Oh, that's a tragedy.." Yet why do they not consider this event a miracle?

Miracle claims in the distant past, especially the alleged resurrection of Jesus, play a major role in some varieties of Christian apologetics. The reasons to doubt such claims are many, including the common sense observation that most people would be skeptical of miracles outside their religion, the importance of observed regularities in historical research, and empirical considerations such as the lack of modern miracles.

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Miracle claims in the distant past, especially the alleged [[resurrection]] of [[Jesus]], play a major role in some varieties of [[Christian]] [[apologetics]]. The reasons to doubt such claims are many, including the common sense observation that most people would be [[skeptical]] of miracles outside their religion, the importance of observed regularities in historical research, and empirical considerations such as the lack of modern miracles.

==Faith healing==

==Faith healing==

''Main article: [[Faith healing]]''

''Main article: [[Faith healing]]''

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In modern times, many Christian evangelists have claimed the ability to supernaturally heal diseases. Some Christians have cited them as powerful evidence for the existence of God and the truth of Christianity. However, investigations of faith healers by men such as doctor William Nolen and magician [[James Randi]] have failed to find any evidence of actual miracles, and have turned up much evidence of fraud or, at best, self-deception.

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In modern times, many Christian [[Evangelism | evangelists]] have claimed the ability to [[supernaturally]] heal diseases. Some Christians have cited them as powerful [[Arguments for the existence of god | evidence for the existence of God]] and the truth of Christianity. However, investigations of [[faith healer]]s by men such as doctor William Nolen and magician [[James Randi]] have failed to find any [[evidence]] of actual miracles, and have turned up much evidence of fraud or, at best, self-deception.

[[Category:Religious mythology]]

[[Category:Religious mythology]]

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===Near-death and temporary clinical death===

===Near-death and temporary clinical death===

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A person being near death or even clinically dead for 5, 10, or even 30 minutes and then coming back is not evidence of a miracle in the strict/technical sense. There is a phenomenon called "autoresuscitation" (AR) that is easily understood in terms of known human physiology that is accepted by the medical community. Reports of "autoresuscitation" (Google it, it is not too difficult to find medical journal articles on the topic) after less than 15 minutes of clinical death are not even almost astounding, and there have been cases of AR after 33 or 37 minutes documented. If cases of hypothermia can be included, this period can be extended to over 45 minutes to 1 hour. This is largely because hypoxic brain damage is suppressed at lower temperatures.

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A person being [[Near-death experience | near death]] or even clinically dead for 5, 10, or even 30 minutes and then coming back is not evidence of a miracle in the strict/technical sense. There is a phenomenon called "autoresuscitation" (AR) that is easily understood in terms of known human physiology that is accepted by the medical community. Reports of "autoresuscitation" (Google it, it is not too difficult to find medical journal articles on the topic) after less than 15 minutes of clinical death are not even almost astounding, and there have been cases of AR after 33 or 37 minutes documented. If cases of hypothermia can be included, this period can be extended to over 45 minutes to 1 hour. This is largely because hypoxic brain damage is suppressed at lower temperatures.

Perhaps counterintuitively, according to the modern understanding of medicine it would be far more miraculous for an amputee to regrow an entire arm or leg than it would be for someone to clinically die for (say) 19 minutes and then wake back up.

Perhaps counterintuitively, according to the modern understanding of medicine it would be far more miraculous for an amputee to regrow an entire arm or leg than it would be for someone to clinically die for (say) 19 minutes and then wake back up.

Revision as of 00:05, 25 November 2011

A miracle is anything unexplainable which seems to defy the laws of physics, nature, or logic in order to achieve an end, usually something very good or mystifying.

The more common definition of "miracle" is much looser than the technical definition. In the common definition a miracle is anything that causes wonder or amazement, even if it's completely explainable. For example, here's a comparison between the two definitions:

Technical: "I was walking down the street and an iron girder suspended above a construction site fell as I was walking underneath. Just as it was about to hit me it suddenly flew to the left and landed in the middle of the street, completely missing me and everyone else there! God was watching out for me."

Common: "My son was just born this morning. He has the most beautiful eyes in the world. Childbirth is such a miracle!"

Some Christians have a skewed and often disturbing view of what a miracle is. To them, a miracle is something which spares them pain or hardship, even if it deals out said pain or hardship on someone else. For example, a Christian man is driving down the street when a car comes out of nowhere and hits him. Both cars are totaled and everyone dies except him. Later on, when he's interviewed by the local news station he claims that God was watching out for him (Argument from incomplete devastation). Obviously this is total bunk. The Christian God is said to be omnipotent and omniscient, thus he knew the accident would happen, he knew how to save everyone, and he was able to. Why he didn't is anyone's guess. In any case, the fact that one man survived doesn't mean that he owes his continued existence to God. This is also a good example of the problem of evil.

Contents

Common miracles

In his book, Unweaving the Rainbow, Richard Dawkins coined a term to deal with "miracles" that merely turn out to be coincidental in nature: PETWHAC, or "Population of Events That Would Have Appeared Coincidental". Dawkins points out that many mundane events occur every single day to every person on the planet, and the human mind has a great capacity to identify patterns where none exist. Dawkins explains that there is a space of events with perfectly normal probability, which could be interpreted as "miraculous" by people who have that sort of mindset.

For instance, suppose that you are thinking about a friend, and that friend just happens to call you. Is this event supernatural in nature? Extremely doubtful. People think about others all the time, and they also call each other all the time. Given enough time, there is a virtual guarantee that a coincidence of this nature will occur.

Another interesting point to think of is what if someone is out for a jog one day and suddenly drops dead right then and there, should that also be considered a "miracle"? Arbitrarily defining miracle as something beneficial that makes one feel good does nothing to support the case of miracles. The difference is when something terrible happens - people try to find a rational explanation for said occurrence. When they cannot find an explanation (typically due to lack of technology to do so) they simply say, "Oh, that's a tragedy.." Yet why do they not consider this event a miracle?

Historical miracles

Miracle claims in the distant past, especially the alleged resurrection of Jesus, play a major role in some varieties of Christianapologetics. The reasons to doubt such claims are many, including the common sense observation that most people would be skeptical of miracles outside their religion, the importance of observed regularities in historical research, and empirical considerations such as the lack of modern miracles.

Near-death and temporary clinical death

A person being near death or even clinically dead for 5, 10, or even 30 minutes and then coming back is not evidence of a miracle in the strict/technical sense. There is a phenomenon called "autoresuscitation" (AR) that is easily understood in terms of known human physiology that is accepted by the medical community. Reports of "autoresuscitation" (Google it, it is not too difficult to find medical journal articles on the topic) after less than 15 minutes of clinical death are not even almost astounding, and there have been cases of AR after 33 or 37 minutes documented. If cases of hypothermia can be included, this period can be extended to over 45 minutes to 1 hour. This is largely because hypoxic brain damage is suppressed at lower temperatures.

Perhaps counterintuitively, according to the modern understanding of medicine it would be far more miraculous for an amputee to regrow an entire arm or leg than it would be for someone to clinically die for (say) 19 minutes and then wake back up.